Grand Theft Auto V

Putting Your Personal Stamp On Grand Theft Auto V

The RPG-style character customization
in GTA: San Andreas was so popular that when Rockstar announced this
feature would be left out of GTA IV, a vocal minority made its
displeasure widely known. For the return trip to Los Santos, this fan-favorite feature returns in a new way. While you won't be ballooning
Michael up several pants sizes by gorging on snacks from the
convenience store or turning Franklin into Ray Lewis by pumping iron,
you can leave your mark by improving several of their skills.

Given their diverse backgrounds and
experiences, Michael, Trevor, and Franklin start off with unique
skill levels in each of the different upgradable categories.
Currently, the game includes strength, shooting, stealth, flying,
driving, and lung capacity, but Rockstar says these are still subject
to change. Rather than giving players experience points that they can
allocate to the various categories, the characters improve their
skills by performing these tasks. Flying planes may be difficult with
Michael at first, but the more he does it, the better he gets.
Dedicated players can max out each of the characters' abilities.

Those with an eye for fashion can also
customize the look of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor by giving them
new haircuts, buying new clothes, and getting tattoos.

Pimp Your Ride

The customization doesn't end with
character progression. The Pay & Spray businesses that used to
serve as a quick way to fix up your car and get a new paintjob are
now full custom shops. Rockstar says players can tweak both
performance and aesthetics at a level on par with Midnight Club: Los
Angeles.

Under the hood, you can tune the
engine, improve the suspension, buy new brakes, and make other tweaks
to how the car handles. Trick your engine out too much and you can
overtune it, so be careful.

If you'd rather focus on style over
substance, concentrate on altering the paint job, wheels, window
tinting, grill, and spoiler. You can even customize your license
plate.

This Is My Rifle, This Is My Gun

Considering the amount of time you
spend in shootouts, it was only natural that Rockstar would
eventually implement a deeper weapon-customization option for gun
nuts who like to debate the finer qualities of the red-dot sight
versus the reflex sight.

With the ability to mix and match
scopes, silencers, laser sights, flashlights, and extended mags for
your favorite weapons, you may want to sign up for a customer rewards
program at Ammu-nation in Grand Theft Auto V.

Making Money To Spend Money

During our cover visit, Rockstar
intimated that money would play a central role in Grand Theft Auto V.
We knew pulling off heists could result in big payoffs, but details
were still sketchy regarding what we could spend that money on. Now
we have a better idea. In addition to dropping serious cash on all
the weapon, car, and character customization options, players can
invest heavily in toys, real estate, and businesses.

Rockstar originally told us we wouldn't
be able to buy new properties for the three main characters, but has
since reversed course. Make enough cash and you can blow it on new
houses, garages, marinas, helipads (a prerequisite for owning a
chopper), and even businesses. Several of these investments have
perks. For instance, if you throw your money behind a taxi business,
you won't have to spend a dime on cabs ever again.

Basically, they took the like of Max Payne 3, Red Dead and Midnight Club and implemented all of those ideas into the GTA V soup so now we're about to devour something epic that R* has been cooking up! XD

As long as there are things to spend money on. That was one of the most disappointing things about GTA IV. There was just not enough things to spend money on. Eventually it just made me wonder what was the point in making it?

I am glad they are bringing back the business aspect of Vice City! Man did I miss that.

Gun customization?!?! Sold.

Car customization? I am not one to make a tacky car, but I am glad they put it in there. I will do it like the Ryan Gosling film "Drive". I'll trick out the engine, but make the outside look like a normal, plain Jane sedan.

Everything is sounding great and Rockstar really seems to be putting their all into GTA V. I'm glad they have changed their mind about being able to buy property and invest in businesses too. I was kinda bummed when they first announced that feature wasn't going to be in GTA V.

So what are the chances that you can play the three characters simultaneously with 2 of your friends? Playing as all 3 guys in the story mode would make this game as good as it can get in my opinion. Co-op still needs to be a part of games that I'm going to sink over 100 hours of gametime playing...make me forget I'm even playing the game by allowing me to enjoy the main story with 2 of my best friends.